When I reflect and think about what this website means to me, at the end of the day it is always about empowering women. Sure, putting on makeup and doing our hair helps us look and feel good on the outside, but on the inside, women have so much potential to reach their dreams and accomplish whatever it is they set their mind to. Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is a non-profit organization which supports the growth among women-owned businesses in the United States from micro businesses into million dollar enterprises. For their national efforts, Nell Merlino, Founder and President, Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, rings The Opening BellSM, joined by esteemed members of the Make Mine a Million $ Business (M3) event steering committee, elected officials, long-time sponsors, and women business owners who have both benefited and hope to benefit from the power of the M3 program. Since I know I have many readers who dream of starting their own business, or maybe are even in the midst of owning their own business, I wanted this post to be both empowering and motivating…
Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national nonprofit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses into million dollar enterprises. Count Me In launched Make Mine a Million $ Business (M3) with founding sponsor American Express OPEN to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to a million dollars in revenue by providing tools, skills and support of a nation-wide community of peers.
US Census statistics indicate that while women-owned businesses represented nearly 50% of privately held companies in the US, a mere 2.6% of those businesses are at $1 million or more in annual revenues, compared to 6% of men-owned firms. In fact, most women-owned businesses are at $50,000 or less in revenues. Since this program has started in 2005, 28% of program participants have reached the million dollar threshold. Count Me In’s goal is to bring 1,000 women owned businesses to or beyond $1 million in annual revenues through the program, generating $1 billion in economic impact, and at least 25,000 sustainable jobs nationwide.
As Labor Day approaches us this weekend and we all enjoy our last unofficial celebrations of the summer, let us keep in mind that the dreams we have in the back of our mind can become goals, which are then put into reality. Women may apply makeup in the morning, or curl their hair for that extra spring in their step, but at the end of the day, watching your dreams spring into action is what radiates that beauty all around us.
*Become a part of Count Me In’s Make Mine a Million $ Business*
Leave a Reply